Universities win McDonald’s Women’s First Grade T20 title

Defeat St George-Sutherland by 43 runs....

The Universities Women’s Cricket Club has won their second First Grade T20 title in three years after beating defending champions, St George-Sutherland, by 43 runs at Coogee Oval yesterday afternoon (January 18).

Universities and St George-Sutherland won through to the Grand Final after defeating Gordon and Penrith respectively in the Semi Finals played earlier in the day.

It was the second time in as many seasons that these two teams had met in the Grand Final.

Winning the toss and batting, Universities got off to a flying start courtesy of a 65 run opening stand between Leah Poulton and Alex Blackwell.

Poulton was the main aggressor in the partnership, striking 48 runs with three sixes and four fours before losing her wicket.

Rachael Haynes was then brilliantly caught on the boundary by Lauren Miletich for a golden duck before Kate Owen was dismissed for 11.

Alex Blackwell and Georgia Redmayne finished off the innings with a 48 run fourth wicket stand as Universities posted 4-150 from their 20 overs, with Blackwell the last batter dismissed for 55.

St George-Sutherland chased hard but the loss of early wickets proved costly as they reached 4-50 in the ninth over.

A 48 run fifth wicket partnership between Lauren Miletich (20) and Lisa McIntyre (36no) added some respectability to the score, but in the end they were well short as they finished their 20 overs on 6-107.

Young spinner Emily Mifsud was the pick of the Universities bowlers with 3-18, with Kate Owen (2-16) and Mel Norup (1-17) the other wicket takers.

Alex Blackwell was named Player of the Final.

In other news, St George-Sutherland won the McDonald’s Women’s Second Grade T20 competition by defeating Bankstown Sports by 32 runs.